Tackle



(No Model.)

- J. VIDA.

'UNITED STTES Ferca,

PATENT TACKLE.

SPECIEICATIN forming part of Letters Patent No. 342,056, dated May 18,1886.

Application filed August 13, 1885. Serial No. 174,336. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnr1r VIDA, of West Medford, county of Middlesex,State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Tackle, of whichthe following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing,is a specification, like letters on the drawing representing like parts.

My invention relates to a tackle specially adapted for hoisting stagingsor for similar purposes, in which the lower or running block of thetackle is accessible to the operator, the object of the invention beingto provide convenient and effieient means for making fast the runningend of the rope.

The tackle comprises the usual upper or standing block, which issupported at some point overhead, and alower or running block providedwith a hook or other means to engage the weight to be raised, which isshown in this instance as a staging such as commonly used by painterswhen engaged in painting the side of a house. It is necessary, when thestaging has been raiscd by the persons upon it to the desired level, tomake fast the running or hoisting end of the rope, and this has usuallybeen done by bending it about the supportinghook of the lower block insuch a manner that the tant portion of the rope coming from the upperblock bears upon and binds the slack portion. This method requires acertain amount of play for the running end of the rope between the upperblock and the point where it is made fast, rendering it diliicult toretain the lower block raised clear up into contact with the upperblock, as is sometimes desirable when there is need of having thestaging as high as possible, and also renders it diflicult to obtain thenecessary slaek for casting off when the staging is to be lowered fromsuch highest point. In order to remove these objections, the lower blockis, in accord ance with the present invention, provided With a belayingpin or cleat, preferably fast ened upon the side of the block, being, asshown in this instance, made integral with the axle-pin upon which thesheave of the lower block turns,which is a desirable construction,

as it affords great strength to the belayingcleat and block.

The drawing shows in end elevation a -tackle provided with a belayingpin or cleat in accordance with this invention, and a staging supportedfrom the said taekle.

The tackle comprises an upper or standing block, a, (shown as having twosheaves, a,) and a hook, a or other means for attaching it to some pointoverhead, and a lower or running block, b, having a single sheave, and arope or fall, c, having its standing end c made fast to the lower block,b, from which it runs over one of the sheaves in the upper block, andthence over the sheave of the lower block and to the other sheave in theupper block, With its running or hoisting portion cextending down towardthe lower block in the usual manner, so that by drawing on the runningend of the fall the lower block and weight sustained thereby (shown inthis instance as a staging, (l, composed of a ladder and foot boardthereon, such as commonly employed by painters) may be raised toward theupper block, or maybe lowered by slaekening the running end of the rope.

lt is necessary, when the lower block and staging are raised to theproper height, to make fast the running end c of the rope, in order toretain the lower block at that level, and this has commonly been done bybending the rope about the hook b, so that the tant portion extending tothe upper block bears upon the slael: portion or free end c of the rope.In order to make fast in this manner, or to cast off, it is necessary toslacken the porton 0 of the rope coming from the upper block, se that itis difficult to raisc: the block b clear up to the upper block, a, andretain it in this position, as it will tend to settle a little as therope c tightens after being hent about the hook b and if the rope ismade fast with the block b clear up in contact with the block ait isvery difficult to obtain suffieicnt slack in the rope c to relieve itspressure on the free portion of the rope, so as to cast off or lower thelower block and staging. In order to overcome these objections, thelower block is, in accordance with the present invention, pro vided witha belaying pin or cleat, e, toward which the rope c may be drawnperfectly tant, and then made fast by winding or braiding, as it were,several turns of the free end of the rope around the end of the pin orcleat e, in the usual manner. By this means the r0pe c may be drawnuntil the block b is IOC brought close up to the block a, and then madefast without any subsequent relaxation or running back of the rpe c, andwhen it is desired to cast off the rope in order to lower the staging itis not necessary to pull upon the rope 0"" or slacken the lower end ofthe same at all, but the free or slack portion c of the rope n1erely hasto be unwound from the ends of the belaying-pin until the rope issufficiently freed to run under the npward strain or pull on the ropec", the operator merely paying out the slack until the staging islowered as far as need be, when the running of the rope may beimmediately checked,and may be made fast by again winding it around thebelayingp1n.

As shown in this instanee, the belaying pin or cleat e is made integralwith or rigidly connected with the axle-pin f, upon which the sheave bof the lower block runs, the said axlepin being secured to the block atthe opposite end from that connected with the belaying-pin in anysuitable manner, preferable by a nut, f, sunk or embedded in the face ofthe block.

It is obvious that this invention is applicable to any tackle in which ablock is accessible to the operator controlling the running end of therope.

may be made fast, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with a pulley-block comprisng a sheave and axlepintherefor, of a belaying pin or cleat connected with the said axle-pin,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

, l. JOSEPH VIDA.

mark.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH P. LIVERMORE, H. P. BATES.

